Sylvia Jeffreys, Host: Well after nearly six weeks of war, a dubious ceasefire is in place this morning between the United States and Iran.
David Campbell, Host: Yeah it remains on fragile terms with reports that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz due to ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon. So, for more, we're joined now by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, live from Canberra. Minister, great to have you here this morning. There are conflicting reports about the Strait this morning. Are you able to confirm whether Iran has closed it again?
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Well, good morning. Good to be with you. And in your, in your introduction, I think you, you reflected the fact that the ceasefire is fragile. It is a fragile ceasefire, but it is also a ceasefire that the world needs to hold. So, our focus at the moment is on two things. One is adding our voice, our diplomatic effort to ensuring that the ceasefire holds, but also and importantly, assuring fuel – diesel, petrol and fertiliser – comes into Australia. And that's why the Prime Minister is in Singapore today.
Jeffreys: Look, Australians are very keen to understand whether fuel is going to start flowing to Australia more frequently and more readily. So, the big question this morning, as we said, is whether or not the Strait is open. Iran says they've closed it. The US says it's still open behind the scenes apparently. Who do you believe and what should we believe? Is it open or not?
Foreign Minister: What is most important is whether commercial shipping has the confidence that the Strait is open. That's what we want. So, this is a central issue for negotiation between the US and Iran. And I know those negotiations are ongoing. What we need is the confidence in commercial shipping that they can safely pass through the Strait because that is what will start to alleviate the supply constraints, the crunch that that is being felt by Australians at the bowser. That's what we want to see. It's also why, and you referred to this earlier, we want the ceasefire to apply to Lebanon. I said that last night. Other countries around the world have said the same thing. We are calling on Hizballah and Israel to observe the ceasefire in Lebanon. Why are we doing that? Because continued fighting in Lebanon risks the ceasefire and we need the ceasefire to hold.
Jeffreys: No doubt. So, just to clarify, it sounds like you're not sure whether or not the Strait is open right now, is that correct?
Foreign Minister: Well, I think there are conflicting reports and the most important thing is commercial shipping needs the confidence for it to be open for them to go through. And that is one of the things that the US and Iran are negotiating.
Campbell: So, oil prices plummeted off the back of the ceasefire deal, as to be expected. Now this is probably all up in the air now. But when will Australians actually see the relief at the bowser? We're hearing this could be weeks away.
Foreign Minister: And that is the question everyone is asking. And, you know, my answer is we want it to be as soon as possible. But I think the hard reality is this may take some time. We've got the disruption in supply from, from the period that we have seen no oil coming through the Strait of Hormuz, that's still flowing through into global markets. And we know that infrastructure, petroleum and other infrastructure, LNG infrastructure in the region has been damaged. So, that's going to disrupt supply. It's why the Government has been so focused on doing what we can to assure alternative supply. It's why the Prime Minister's in Singapore and I've been engaging with other countries. It's why we funded Export Finance to help finance the private sector sourcing alternative fuel.
CAMPBELL. So, with the Prime Minister going to Singapore, will that make it quicker for Australians to see relief of the bowser?
Foreign Minister: Our Prime Minister going to Singapore is about assuring supply. Singapore is our largest supplier of petrol. So, we want them, and I think this is very clear from their statements, they also want to be, we want them to continue to be a reliable supplier, just as we are a reliable supplier of energy into the region.
Jeffreys: Donald Trump has declared victory in this war despite the fact that Israel is still firing at Lebanon, as we go to air more than 250 people have been killed in the last 24 hours since that ceasefire was announced. Was he premature in declaring victory?
Foreign Minister: Well, first I'd say on the ceasefire in Lebanon, I again go back to what I said, we want the ceasefire in Lebanon to be observed. We want that because we see the loss of life and we want that because it is, continued fighting in Lebanon risked the whole fragile ceasefire across the region with implications for global markets.
Campbell: You have criticised the President when he used the phrase a whole civilisation will die. You wouldn't be alone in that. The whole world seemed to criticise him on that. But we're talking about a man here who seems to be running the entire economy of the world here using social media and just what emotionally he feels at the time. Do you believe that with words and threats like that, that the President was committing a war crime?
Foreign Minister: I've already made my comments about that. I think those comments are unacceptable and that no one should be talking in any circumstance about the destruction of a civilisation. I've made that clear. I've also said to Australians for some, for some time now, we know that the US under President Trump will be more unpredictable. And what we are doing about that is continuing to work with them, but also diversifying our partnerships, working in our region with Southeast Asia, with the Pacific, with Canada, with the United Kingdom and with the European Union. These are about diversifying our relationships and making sure this contributes to our resilience in a world that is more unpredictable.
Jeffreys: Things feel even less certain today than they did yesterday, that's for sure. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, we appreciate your time this morning. Thanks for joining us.
Foreign Minister: Good to be with you.